Alarm mechanism for clocks



Nov. 2, 1937. s. KRAKOWSKI ALARM MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed April 13, 1936 \NVENTOR n mkowshz' ATTOR;

Sta

recess or chamber, l3,

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,097,818 ALARM MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Stanley Krakowski, Jersey City, N. J. Application April 13, 1936, Serial No. 74,063

13 Claims.

disc which both tions to be produced; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the sound pro ducing member of the present invention, showing the method of mounting the same and of adjusting it; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the adjustable mounting means of the sound producing member of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawing, the numeral l0 designates, generally, an alarm clock, having the usual clock mechanism, including the alarm dial, II, with the usual time release device usually therewith and not necessary to be here shown in detail, all set in a case, I2, provided with a recess or chamber preferably extending upwardly and partly rearwardly of the main chamber of the case l2, such as shown at I3. Within the is mounted, preferably adjustably, a sound box, I 4. The adjustable mounting for the sound box, l4, may be of any desirable and suitable type and may consist, as illustrated, of a U-shaped member, I5, carried vertically on the sound box, I, which member is provided with oppositely directed flanges, i5. These flanges may be engaged and slidable within the channels, 16, provided by a pair of guide cleats, H, which are mounted on the wall of the chamber, l3.

The U-shaped member, l5, may be provided, at the center of its lower end with the horizontally extending portion, l8, which may be provided with an opening, l9, engaging fixedly the end of a threaded pin, 20, passing through the floor of the chamber [3, and which is engaged, on the exterior of the case, by a beaded nut, by means of which the sound box may be raised or lowered, as may readily be understood.

The lower end of the sound box I4 is provided g with a sounding board, 2|, which may be formed in the shape of a cover or lid, with a flange 22, so that it may be removable, for the purpose of changing or replacing. The sounding board, 2|, may be of any suitable terial, such as mica, or the like, and has secured thereto, in any suitable manner, one end of a vibrating reed, 23, the free end of which is bent downwardly, preferably diagonally downwardly.

The vibrating reed, may also be of any suitable material, preferably metallic.

Positioned within the clock case, l2, adjacent the chamber, I3, is a frame, 24, of the type usually employed for mounting clock movements, upon which is mounted the gear wheel, 25, in a position adapted to have its teeth engage the free, depending edge of the vibrating reed, 23. The gear Wheel, 25, is carried fixedly upon a shaft, 21, which also carries a pinion, 28, which is engaged and activated by the gear wheel 29, which is part of a gear train comprising the additional gear wheels, 29' and 29", which is mounted within the frame 24. The last gear wheel of the train, 29", is engaged by one end of the coiled clock spring 30, the other end of which is anchored to the frame, as at 3|. The wheel, 29", is mounted on a winding shaft, 32, which is operable from the exterior of the case, I 2, in the usual manner, permitting the winding of the spring, 30, without disturbingthe gear train.

It may here be stated that the frame 24 may be, in actual practice, combined with the main clock frame, to obtain advantages of economy in cost and space.

Mounted within the frame 24, substantially alongside the wheel 29, upon a second winding shaft, 33, which extends to the exterior of the clock, for the purpose of winding, as will hereinafter he made clear, is a disc, 34, whose circumference may be provided with the even portions,

35, and with the irregularly cut out portions, 36. Carried, also, on the shaft 33 is a gear wheel, 31, and one end of the clock spring, 38, the other end to the frame, as at 39.

of which is anchored Th rigid, vibratory matact the brake 43, together with the substantially U shaped arm or rod, 4 One end of the rod, M, designated as M, is so positioned that it is in close proximity to the time release mechanism of the clock and is adapted to be engaged by it and to be released at a pre-determined time. The other end of the rod, -4, designated as M, wardly, alongside the clock movement, in close proximity to an alarm stop mechanism, which may consist of the push and pull pin, 45, operable from the exterior of case, I2, which mechanism, 45, may engage the end M" to halt or prevent its movement and thereby halt or prevent the move ment of all parts controlled by the escapernent. The end 4 1" may also carry, adjacent its free terminus, a balance weight, 45, preferably adjustable in place, to govern and reduce'the rate of the vibration of the arm M.- and of the escapement, to prevent too rapidunwinding of the clock spring, 38. a

' Mounted freely, by one of its ends, as at 41, substantially below the gear wheel 25, is a leaf spring, 48, the free end of which may be slightly downwardly bent and is adapted to rest upon the edge of the disc 34. that when its edge rests upon the even portion of the disc circumference, 35, its middle will conor friction wheel, A9, or other suitable device which may be carried on the shaft 2?, and thus prevent'the turning of the gear wheel '25. The shaft 2! may also carry the fan, 58, to retard the rotation of the. gear wheel 25 and to prevent too rapid unwinding of the spring 313,

which activates it. a a

It is apparent that when the alarm release mechanism of the clock releases the end 54' of the arm 44, permitting the shaft 43 to rotate, it will release the escapement, G2, which will oscillate and permit the scape wheel, il, and the gear wheel, 3'!, to turn, bythe action of the spring, 38, simultaneously turning the disc, 34, until the free edge of the leaf spring, 38, is dropped into one of the cuts or serrations in the disc, releasing the braking pressure upon the brake wheel, 49, and permitting the gear train, 29, 29, and 29" which is activated by the spring 30, to turn the gear wheel, 25, whose teeth will vibrate the reed, 23, to produce a sound, until the brake leaf spring is again pressed against the brake wheel when its edge is raised by the slant of the serration as the disc turns. The turning of the disc 36 will continue with the consequent sounds, until the time mechanism of the clock again locks the arm M in position or'u'ntil the springs 36 and 38 are unwound. By varying the arrangement of the serrations of the disc in position, number andshape, varying intermittent sounds maybe produced, and by varying the character of the vibrating reed, sounding board and sound box, the quality of such sounds may be 'varied in numerous ways.

To make the alarm clock of the present invention morerealistic, especially when the disc arrangement is such as to imitate the sound of a bird or animal, a figure of such bird or animal, 5 i,

'may be mounted upon the frame, such bird or animal having a hinged lower beak or jaw, 52,

as the case may be, the rear end of which may be attached to or rest on one end of a rod, 53, which passes through the clock case, to have its lower may extend down- The spring 38, is so mounted a the circumference of 7 end rest in a cup or depression, 54, in one arm of alever, 55, which is pivoted on the wall of the case, as at 56. The other end of the lever, 55, is tapered diagonally and is adapted to be engaged by the pins, El, on the face of the disc 34-, to raise and lower the jaw or beak as the disc turns.

It may here be stated that the alarm device of the present invention is readily adaptable for use with electric motors instead of clock springs, in connection with the electric clocks now prevalent.

This completes th description of one preferred embodiment of the present invention and its adaption for use with a clock, and it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the embodiment herein described, as, obviously, many variations may be made of the inventive faculties and within the'spirit and scope of the present invention and the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A sound alarm device comprising a sounding board, a sound box above the said sounding board, a vibrating reed set into the said sounding board, a rotatable shaft carrying a toothed wheel, the teeth of the said wheel engaging the free edgeof the said vibrating reed, means to rotate the said toothed wheel shaft and brakingmeans adapted to stop and release the said shaft for rotation.

2. The, device of claim 1, wherein the sounding board and sound box are adjustably mounted with respect to the toothed wheel.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the braking means comprises a friction wheel carried on the toothed .wheel shaft, a rotatable shaft carrying a disc,'the saiddisc haying one or-moreserrations in its circumference, 'a leaf spring pivoted by one of its ends, its other end being bent diagonally and adapted to rest on the circumference of the said disc, the central portion of the said leaf spring being adapted to press against the friction wheel when its free edge rests on, a smooth portion of the disc and to release the said shaft when the free end rests within a serration thereof, and means to rotate the said disc shaft.

comprising a friction wheel carried on the toothed A wheel shaft, a winding shaft carrying a disc, the said disc having one or more serrations on its circumference, a. leaf spring pivoted by one of its ends, its other end being bent sideways to the main portion thereof and adapted to rest on the circumference of the said disc, the central portion of the said leaf spring being adaptthe said friction wheel when smooth portion of the ed to press against its free edge rests on a 'disc circumference and to release the said friction wheel when its free end rests within a serrated portion of the said disc, and a clock spring anchored on the said disc carrying winding shaft and adapted to rotate the same.

5. The deviceof claim 4: wherein the sound-- ing board and sounding box are adjustably mounted with respect to the toothed wheel.

6. 'Ihe'device of claim 4. wherein the serrations on the circumference of the said disc are grouped in spaced series.

therein, without the use comprising a soundadapted to press against the said friction wheel when its free edge rests on a smooth portion of the disc and to release the said friction wheel when its free edge rests on a serrated portion of the said disc, a clock spring anchored by one end on the said winding shaft and adapted to rotate the same, and means adapted to be engaged and released by the alarm release mechanism of an alarm clock to control the rotation of the said winding shaft.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the means to rotate the toothed wheel shaft comprises a winding shaft, a clock spring anchored by one end upon the said winding shaft and geared means adapted to transmit the rotation of the winding shaft to the toothed wheel shaft.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the means to rotate the toothed wheel shaft at an increased rate of rotation.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the means wheel shaft comprises a winding shaft carrying a geared wheel, a clock spring anchored by one end upon the winding shaft, a pinion upon the toothed wheel shaft and a gear train engaging the said geared wheel and the said pinion and adapted to transmit the rotation of the said winding shaft to the toothed wheel shaft at an increased rate of rotation.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the means to rotate the toothed wheel shaft comprises a winding shaft carrying a geared wheel, a clock spring anchored by one end upon the winding shaft, a pinion upon the toothed wheel shaft and a gear train engaging the said geared wheel and the said pinion and adapted to transmit the rotation of the said winding shaft to the toothed wheel shaft at an increased rate of rotation.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the means to control the rotation of the disc carrying winding shaft comprises a co-mounted scape wheel and pinion, a geared wheel mounted on the disc carrying Winding shaft engaging the said pinion, and escapement adapted to engage the said scape wheel, an arm adapted to control the said escapement, said arm being adapted to be released by a timing mechanism.

STANLEY KRAKOWSKI.

engaged and 

